A. Subbarayalu Reddiar
Encyclopedia
Diwan Bahadur Agaram Subbarayalu Reddiar ( ) (b. October 15, 1855 - d. November, 1921) was a landlord
, Justice Party
leader
and Chief Minister or Premier
of Madras Presidency
from December 17, 1920 to July 11, 1921.
Subbarayalu Reddiar was born in a Reddiar
family of South Arcot in 1855. He studied law in the West. On his return to India, Subbarayalu Reddiar involved himself in district politics of South Arcot and served as a district board president. Initially, he joined the Indian National Congress
but left the party in 1916 to join the Justice Party. When the Justice Party was elected to power in the Madras Presidency in the first general elections in November 1920, Subbarayalu Reddiar was chosen as Chief Minister. Thus, Subbarayalu Reddiar is the first Chief Minister of Madras Presidency.
Subbarayalu Reddiar served as Chief Minister till July 11, 1921 when he resigned on grounds of health. He died soon afterwards.
Reddi family domiciled in South Arcot
district of Madras Presidency
on October 15, 1855. His parents were well-to-do farmers. He studied in Presidency College, Chennai
along with Theagaroya Chetty
. Later he studied law in the United Kingdom
.
, present-day state of Tamil Nadu
.
, a part of its policy during the Non-Cooperation Movement
boycotted the elections. As a result, the Justice Party swept to power winning 63 of the 98 Assembly seats to which elections were conducted. Among the nominated members, it had a strength of 18 adding up to a total of 81 members in a chamber of 127.
Following the success of the Justice Party in the 1920 elections, Lord Willingdon invited Sir Theagaroya Chetty
to form the Government. However, he passed on the mantle to Subbarayalu Reddiar. Subbarayalu Reddiar assumed office as Chief Minister on December 17, 1920 and held the portfolios of education, public works, excise and registration in the new government. The first session of the assembly was inaugurated by Duke of Connaught on January 13, 1921. On February 14, 1921, three new Council Secretaries were appointed by the Justice party Government. However, Subbarayalu Reddiar resigned soon afterwards on grounds of health.
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
, Justice Party
Justice Party
Justice Party is the name of several different political parties around the world:*Indian Justice Party*Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party...
leader
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
and Chief Minister or Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
of Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
from December 17, 1920 to July 11, 1921.
Subbarayalu Reddiar was born in a Reddiar
Reddiar
Reddiar also Reddiyar is caste title of prominent land owning, farming and mercantile social group of Tamil Nadu and abroad. Most of the reddiars are Zamindars and Landlords. They are a group with very rich cultural heritage...
family of South Arcot in 1855. He studied law in the West. On his return to India, Subbarayalu Reddiar involved himself in district politics of South Arcot and served as a district board president. Initially, he joined the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
but left the party in 1916 to join the Justice Party. When the Justice Party was elected to power in the Madras Presidency in the first general elections in November 1920, Subbarayalu Reddiar was chosen as Chief Minister. Thus, Subbarayalu Reddiar is the first Chief Minister of Madras Presidency.
Subbarayalu Reddiar served as Chief Minister till July 11, 1921 when he resigned on grounds of health. He died soon afterwards.
Early life
Agaram Subbarayalu Reddiar was born in a TeluguTelugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
Reddi family domiciled in South Arcot
South Arcot
South Arcot is a former district of India, located in the state of Tamil Nadu.South Arcot was the southern portion of the Mughal province of Arcot. Arcot came under the control of a local Nawab after Mughals lost control southern India in the 18th century...
district of Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
on October 15, 1855. His parents were well-to-do farmers. He studied in Presidency College, Chennai
Presidency College, Chennai
Presidency College is an arts, law and science college in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. Established as the Madras Preparatory School on October 15, 1840 and later, upgraded to a high school and then, graduate college, the Presidency College is one of the oldest government arts colleges...
along with Theagaroya Chetty
Theagaroya Chetty
Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty KCSI was an eminent lawyer, industrialist and a prominent political leader from the erstwhile Madras province. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party in 1916 along with C. Natesa Mudaliar, Dr. T. M. Nair...
. Later he studied law in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early political career
Subbarayalu Reddiar served as the President of Cuddalore taluk Board in 1912. In 1917 he became the chair of South Arcot District Board. He later became the first Chief Minister of Madras PresidencyMadras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
, present-day state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
Chief Minister of Madras
At the end of November 1920, the first general elections were held to the Madras Legislative Assembly as per the Montford Reforms. The Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, a part of its policy during the Non-Cooperation Movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
boycotted the elections. As a result, the Justice Party swept to power winning 63 of the 98 Assembly seats to which elections were conducted. Among the nominated members, it had a strength of 18 adding up to a total of 81 members in a chamber of 127.
Following the success of the Justice Party in the 1920 elections, Lord Willingdon invited Sir Theagaroya Chetty
Theagaroya Chetty
Sir Pitti Theagaraya Chetty KCSI was an eminent lawyer, industrialist and a prominent political leader from the erstwhile Madras province. He was one of the founders of the Justice Party in 1916 along with C. Natesa Mudaliar, Dr. T. M. Nair...
to form the Government. However, he passed on the mantle to Subbarayalu Reddiar. Subbarayalu Reddiar assumed office as Chief Minister on December 17, 1920 and held the portfolios of education, public works, excise and registration in the new government. The first session of the assembly was inaugurated by Duke of Connaught on January 13, 1921. On February 14, 1921, three new Council Secretaries were appointed by the Justice party Government. However, Subbarayalu Reddiar resigned soon afterwards on grounds of health.
| Subbarayalu Reddiar's Cabinet | |
|---|---|
| Portfolio | Minister |
| Education, Excise and Public works | A. Subbarayalu Reddiar (Also Chief Minister) |
| Local Self-Government | Panaganti Ramarayaningar |
| Development | Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu Rao Bahadur Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu KCSI was an Indian lawyer, professor, politician and Justice Party leader who served as the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from April 1, 1937 to July 14, 1937... |
| Source: Encyclopaedia of Political Parties | |